Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120GB — Compact PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120GB is a compact PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive built on the Phison E7 controller with Toshiba MLC NAND, offering strong sequential performance and a 5-year warranty in an OEM-capacity form factor.
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120GB uses the Phison PS5007-E7 controller paired with Toshiba MLC (2-bit per cell) NAND and Nanya DDR3L DRAM. It is a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe drive in the M.2 2280 form factor. The IRDM (Iridium) Ultimate line is Goodram's performance-oriented NVMe series, and the 120GB model is the entry point.
The IRDM Ultimate is available in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB capacities. The 120GB capacity is an OEM-oriented size that is less common in retail but offers a cost-effective option for users who need a fast boot drive with a separate data drive. The Phison E7 controller provides a proven platform with end-to-end data path protection, SmartECC, SmartFlush for power-loss protection, and AES-256 encryption.
Toshiba MLC NAND is more durable than the TLC found in most modern budget drives, contributing to the IRDM Ultimate's endurance. The drive includes a Nanya DDR3L DRAM cache for consistent random I/O performance. Goodram backs the IRDM Ultimate with a 5-year warranty — a significant advantage over the 3-year warranties on the PX500 lineup. The drive is rated for 2 million hours MTBF.
Key rivals include the Samsung 960 EVO 128GB (similar era, TLC, 3-year warranty) and the WD Black SN750 250GB (newer, faster, 5-year warranty). The IRDM Ultimate's 5-year warranty and MLC NAND are advantages, but the 120GB capacity is limiting for modern use.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
Goodram rates the IRDM Ultimate 120GB at up to 2,900 MB/s sequential reads and 2,200 MB/s sequential writes, with random performance up to 235,000 read IOPS and 270,000 write IOPS. These are strong numbers for a Phison E7-based drive, with write performance in particular benefiting from the MLC NAND's faster program times compared to TLC.
Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120 GB vs PCIe 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other PCIe 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 256 GB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 512 GB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 1 TB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 2 TB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120 GB (this drive): 2,900 MB/s read, 2,200 MB/s write
The Phison E7 controller was one of the first consumer NVMe controllers and has been extensively validated across dozens of brands. It uses a dynamic SLC cache to absorb burst writes, and the MLC NAND provides more consistent sustained-write performance than TLC alternatives. The DRAM cache ensures low-latency random reads.
At 120GB, the drive has limited capacity for modern applications and games. It works best as a dedicated boot drive paired with a larger secondary drive. The E7 controller supports L1.2 low-power mode for laptop use, and the drive's power consumption is modest.
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
Goodram backs the IRDM Ultimate 120GB with a 5-year limited warranty. The drive is rated for 2 million hours MTBF. The 5-year warranty is a significant advantage over budget drives with 3-year coverage and matches the best in the industry. Goodram does not publish a TBW endurance rating for the IRDM Ultimate series, but the MLC NAND provides inherently higher endurance than TLC alternatives.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 120 GB |
| Interface [?] | PCIe 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Phison PS5007-E7 |
| Memory type [?] | Toshiba MLC |
| DRAM [?] | Nanya 256 - 512 DDR3L |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 2900 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 2200 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 235000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 270000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | n/a |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Conclusion
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 120GB is a competent PCIe 3.0 NVMe boot drive with a 5-year warranty and MLC NAND durability. Its main limitation is the 120GB capacity, which is tight for modern use. It makes sense as a dedicated boot drive for users who pair it with a larger secondary drive. For users who need more capacity, the IRDM Ultimate 240GB or 480GB offer the same platform with more usable space.
+ Pros
- Phison E7 controller with Toshiba MLC NAND
- 5-year warranty
- 2,900/2,200 MB/s sequential performance
- Nanya DDR3L DRAM cache
- AES-256 encryption and end-to-end data protection
- Cons
- 120GB capacity is very limiting
- PCIe 3.0 — slower than PCIe 4.0 alternatives
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Limited regional availability
🛒 Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
✨ Video Review
Unboxing GOODRAM IRDM ULTIMATE 120GB M2 2280 PCIe GEN 3 x4 NVMe MLC + adapter AIC HHHL review
